Dougherty County Marriage Records Search
Dougherty County marriage records are housed at the Probate Court in Albany, Georgia. The court handles all marriage license applications and stores recorded marriage certificates for the county. Albany is the largest city in Dougherty County, and the Probate Court on Pine Avenue serves the entire area. Whether you need a new marriage license or want to search for an old record, the Dougherty County Probate Court is the place to start. Staff there can help you find copies of licenses and certificates going back many years. Online applications are recommended before visiting the office.
Dougherty County Quick Facts
Dougherty County Probate Court
The Dougherty County Probate Court is on Pine Avenue in Albany. This is the office that handles all marriage license and marriage record requests for people in Dougherty County. Both applicants must show up in person to get a license. You can not send just one person. The court recommends that you complete the online application before your visit so the process goes faster. The clerk will check your paperwork, take the fee, and issue the license if everything is in order.
The office is open during regular business hours. Walk-ins are welcome, but filling out the application online ahead of time will save you time at the Dougherty County Probate Court. Call the office if you have questions about what to bring or what the current fees are.
Dougherty County is the most populated county in southwest Georgia. Albany residents and people from nearby areas all come to this courthouse for marriage licenses and record searches.
| Address | 225 Pine Ave Albany, GA 31701 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (229) 431-3244 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Dougherty County Marriage License Fees
The marriage license fee in Dougherty County follows Georgia's standard rate. Without premarital counseling, you can expect to pay between $56 and $77. With a qualifying course, the fee drops to the $16 to $37 range. O.C.G.A. § 19-3-30.1 sets this discount. To get the lower rate, you must bring a certificate showing you finished at least six hours of premarital education within the last 12 months when you visit the Dougherty County Probate Court.
Cash and money orders are accepted. Personal checks are generally not taken at Georgia probate courts. Call (229) 431-3244 to confirm what payment forms the Dougherty County office takes right now. Certified copies of recorded marriage certificates cost $10 each.
How to Get Dougherty County Marriage Records
The simplest way to get a marriage record from Dougherty County is to visit the Probate Court in Albany. Give the clerk both names and the date of the marriage. Ask for a certified copy. The fee is $10. Staff will search and print the record for you. Most requests are handled in just a few minutes if the file is in the Dougherty County system.
Mail requests may work too. Send a written note with the full names, marriage date, and a money order for $10 to the Dougherty County Probate Court at 225 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701. Include your return address so they can mail the record back to you. Phone requests for certified copies are not typically accepted, but calling to ask about options is always a good idea.
The Georgia Department of Public Health has some marriage records from 1952 to 1996. For records outside that range, the Dougherty County Probate Court is the only source. The state charges a $10 non-refundable search fee. Mail requests to the state take 8 to 10 weeks.
Marriage License Requirements in Dougherty County
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-2. A 17-year-old may apply with proof of legal emancipation, but 15 days must have passed since the court order. The older party can not be more than four years older. Both must show up at the Dougherty County Probate Court in Albany.
Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. If either person was married before, a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse is needed. All documents must be in English. If they are in another language, you need a certified translation. Under O.C.G.A. § 19-3-1, both parties must be of sound mind and free of any prior un-dissolved marriage to get a license in Dougherty County.
- Valid photo ID for both applicants
- Proof of age if no photo ID is available
- Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
- Social Security number for both people
- Premarital counseling certificate for the reduced fee
The Dougherty County marriage license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in that time, the license becomes void and you must reapply.
Marriage Ceremonies in Dougherty County
Once you have the license, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Georgia law allows judges, ministers, and clergy to officiate. The Dougherty County Probate Court in Albany may also perform ceremonies. Call ahead to ask about this service.
The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Dougherty County Probate Court within 30 days of the ceremony. The court then records the marriage and mails a certified certificate to the couple. This process takes about 30 days after the signed license arrives at the court. If you need the certificate right away, you can visit the Albany courthouse and ask for a copy once the record has been entered.
Dougherty County Record Resources
You can start your application online at the Georgia Probate Records website before your trip to the Dougherty County Probate Court in Albany.
The Council of Probate Court Judges has standard forms used across all 159 Georgia county probate courts. The Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps older marriage records on microfilm. FamilySearch also has a free index of Georgia marriages from 1808 to 1967 that may include Dougherty County records. You can also request a verification of marriage from the state for any ceremony from January 1, 2014 onward using the verification request form.
Cities in Dougherty County
Albany is the county seat and largest city in Dougherty County. Marriage licenses for Albany residents are handled at the Dougherty County Probate Court on Pine Avenue. You can find more about marriage records in Albany on our city page.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Dougherty County. If the marriage took place outside Dougherty County, check with one of these nearby Probate Courts.